Internal-combustion engine



April 29, 1930. A. CRAIGON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 9, 1928Jun/or 57 Gaigon Jazzy/lee Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STA res PATENTOFFICE ADAM cnAIGo v, or 'ronoiv'ro, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR T CBAIGONENGINES LIMITED, on HAMILTON, CANADA INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINEApplication filed August 9, 1928. Serial No. 298,524.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines in which the flowof the working fluid is controlled, in part at least, directly by V andparticularly to engines of the uniflow type disclosed-in my co-pendingapplication of even date herewith. In the said application aconstruction is shown in which acombustion chamber is formed in axialalinement with the engine cylinder, the end of the combustion chamberbeing formed by a piston valve controlling communication between a portand the combustion chamber. A port in the engine cylinder thev piston,

remote from the combustion chamber is controllable by the-piston.

a combustion chamber.

In the present invention my object isto provide a constructionparticularly adapted for, use with twin cylinders, either single acting,or of the double acting type shown in my prior United States application230,656,

dated November 2,1927. 7

I attain my object by means of a construction which may be brieflydescribed as follows. Between a pair of cylinders is formed One wall ofthis chamber isformed by a piston valve which is movable in acylindrical guide having aport n its wall, the valve being adapted tocontrol the communication between the interior of the engine cylinderandthe said ing drawings in which vFig. 1 is a vertical section of anengine constructedinaccordance with my invention,

parts not concerned with the invention being omitted; 1,

i Fig. 2' a cross section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3 a-longitudinalsectionof a modifiedv q 1 indicate correspo Fig. 1; andv form of valve.7 In the drawings like numerals of reference ding parts in the differentfigures 1 In the drawings I show [the engine block ;-formed with twocylinders 1, arranged ,side

The construction, without otherby side, sothat two pistons may operateon a single connecting rod. In each cylinder is longitudinally movable atrunk piston 2, the sleeves 3 of these pistons being connected by acrossheadcarrying a gudgeon pin 4 of the connecting rod 5, the lowerend ofwhich is journalled on a crank of the crank shaft 6 in the ordinarymanner. Within the sleeve of each trunk piston is located a stationarypiston7. Each stationary piston is preferably supported from the crossmember 80f the engine base.

From the construction of the cylinders and the stationary and'movablepistons described, it follows that the engine is double acting. Betweenthe cylinders, at opposite ends thereof, I form two combustion chambers9' and 10, each communicating with both cylthe cylindrical guide areformed the ports I 14, each communicatingwith a manifold 15' see Fig. 2and also Fig. 1 in which a port is shown co-incident with the passage16). Communication between these ports and the interior of the enginecylinders is controlled by the piston valves, each piston valve beingprovided for that purpose with a passage 16 having a plurality ofradially directedpassages 16 'thepassag e 16 being open at opposite endsthrough the sides of the valve. The passages 16 are adapted tocommunicate with the interior of the sleeves :3. Between the valvesextends a cam shaft 17 provided with the cam 18. adapted to engageanti-friction rollers 19 on the piston valves. The piston valves. Thepiston valves are connected by the springs 20 tending to maintain therollers in contact with the'cain. The cam shaft will be driven in anyknown manner to actuate the piston valves. A

It willbe noted, on reference to Fig- 1 of -the drawings, that,'when apiston valve is in position to form a communication between thecylinders and one of the ports 14, the combustion chamber is reduced tovary small dimensions and is substantially closed o'if fromcommunication'with the cylinders. When the cylinders are closed ofi'fromcominunication with one of the ports 14, a combustion chamber ofgood proportions and shape is provided communicating easily with'theends of the cylinders. To give suitable shaping, the opposite walls ofthe combustion chambers are :concaved, assshownawhile the endsaozt thepistons are preferably con-vexed. The ends of the stationary pistonsarevalsoipreferably curved, .as shown, to facilitate travel ot the airorgases. Theclosedpositioniof each valve is determined by means of theshoulder 21 formed on the valveadaptechto engage the shoulder 22-formed'on the cylindrical guide. Centrally ofz-the sleeves vEare formedports 23 adapted to communicate with ports formed in --tl-1e-"cylinder-sthe ports '23 "being in communication with the irramifoltl 24. Theportsfifi are adapted to becontr'olledlby' the pistons 2. Openings areformed leading into each combustion chamber. These openings are intendedfor the reception of spark plugs if *the deviceds to be employed with ai gaseous fuel mixture, or for'the connection-of fuel valves if thedevice '-is to be used asa tweetroke-cycle Diesel-engine, i hssumi-ngthelatter the mode of operation is as follows? 7 WVith the parts in the"posit'ion'sho'wn in Fig. -1,-sc,avenging air is flowing th1- Ough'theports 23 and passesfin parallel through the cylinders and through "thepassages 16, 16 in the lower piston valve and t-henceto the lowermanifold 135; The piston valve closes and the trunk pistons continuetheir descent,

thus compressing 'the scaven-gingair into the combustion chamber 10 intoWh-iClifiIeI is injected at the v proper moment. Near the end of thefiring stroke and before the 'por -ts 23 are uncovered the'lower pistonvalve'is 5 openedto permit exha-ustto take place. The cxh'a ust isthrough manifold 15 and is driven out .and followed bythe freshscavenging air from the manifolds 24 through ports 23, 23

de-rs fissubsta-ntially similar.

"tlheoperation a't:theiothei ends-ofthe cylin- -iFii'o111t-l1e abovedescription --it wil l be seen that;asthe'flow'of'gasesasnrparallel-throngh the cylinders to a "commonexhaust, ?the en- 'gine'willhe operable at adiigherrateofspeed andscavenging 'willhe more eificientthan-in the engine shown in*tliejpatent here-inbefore referred-to. "The engine-1n ayv, also beoperated ivit hithe manifol'rlsfl lacting asthe "exhaust" manifolds, andthe manifolds '15 as the inlet iirranifolds. "WVhen manifold "24 is usedfor 'a dm'itt'ing scaveugin grair' and f 15 for eX-haust, however the)istonfvailves haveztoo en to {PGUIllt'BXhZLLISfibG'fOI'B'P011523 areuncovered ':to admitthe air; therefore, itis necessary, or 960 advisableat least, "to re'd -ice the load on a piston valve "before it is =movedto bring the V .passagec16 int0- comm-uni'cation with the ports M. Fortl-iis' purpose'31 fform an opening jtlirough ft-he will of each pistonvalve, which '65) "Proms me wall of *the "adjacent ie'onibust-i'on 1 ibeing adapted to controlthe communication ports 1 in the main cylinderwalls are open.

,, '1. 'In an internal combustion engine, the 0 combination of acylinder; a piston movable therein; a combustion chamber laterally oif-:setrelativeito andihaving a portcommimi eating with, the cylinder; apiston valve so forming one wall-of the eombustion chamber p ,a cylinderparallel to the engine cylinder Storming -a guide for the piston valveand v havingza port in its wall;the saidepiston valve between said portand the interior ofthesen l gine cylinder; randa port in the'ma-i'n:cylinder wallremote 7 from the combustion chamber and centi ol lable bythe piston,thepiston-andpis aton va'lve'being adap'tedto move inOPPOSltQaQO phase whereby tl e'combu-stion rchamber is 1-educed-to itssm-allest dimensions at-the time the port in the inain cylinderwalli-sopen.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of acylindenya-piston movable :9 therein a combustion hamber laterallyoff- 1set relative to, I and having a 'port communicating with,-'-=thecylinder; a pistonivalve forming one wall of the combustion-chamber acylinder parallel to the engine-cylinder forming a guide-forthe'piston'valve and having=a port in its Wall, akport being formed throughthe :piston 'valve adaptetl' to 'form a passage between the' port imthevalve cylinder i wall and the 1 port communication with the w engine Icylinder; and -a I port inf'the main I oylinder wall remote fromthe-combustion =chaniber-and controllable by the piston.

8. Injan internal combustion engine, the p ton-for eac h of said;cylinders; a common onibus'tion chamber located between thecyL indersandcommunicating therewith a ipiston valve lform'ing one mm ofthe-combus- 'tion chamber; acylincler forming a-guide for said pistonvalve having a port [in its 'wall, the said piston valve bei'ng adaptedto control 7 thecommunication between 'the said port and the interiorsof l the" engine cylinders; and a :portineach engine cylinder :waillremote ffrom the combustion chamber and c'ontrollab'lelby th'e piston,the :pistons and the piston valve being adapted'to; move inoppositephase whereby the combustion chamber is reduced to ts smallestdimen ionsat the tim ethe 4. En an internal -.,combustion engine, the Vcombination of acylinder; a piston movable therein; a -combustionichambericommunicating with -one enltl o fthe cylinder; a :piston :ioo

combination oftwo parallel cylinders; a=pis- 110 valve forming one wallof the combustion chamber; a cylinder forming a guide for said pistonvalve having a port in its wall, the said piston valve being adapted tocontrol the communication between said port and the interior of theengine cylinder; a port in the engine cylinder wall remote from thecombustion chamber and controllable by the piston;

a passage through the piston valve forming a communication between thecombustion chamber and the port in the valve cylinder wall; and a poppetvalve controlling said passage.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder apiston movable therein; a combustion chamber laterally offset relativeto, and having a port communleating with, the cylinder; a piston V valveforming one wall of the combustion chamber; a cylinder parallel to theengine cylinder forming a guide for the piston valve and having a portin its wall, the said piston valve being adapted to control thecommunication between said port and the interior of the engine cylinder;a port in the engine cylinder wall remote from the combustion chamberand controllable by the piston; a passage through the piston valveforming a communication between the combustion chamber and the port inthe valve cylinder wall; and a poppet valve controlling said passage.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of two cylinders,side by side; pistons movable therein; a combustion chamber formedbetween and common to the two cylinders; a passageway adapted for communication with the combustion chamber; and means, forming one wall ofthe combustion chamber, for controlling the communication between saidpassageway and the combustion chamber, said means being movable inopposite phase to the pistons, whereby the combustion chamber is reducedto its smallest dimensions when the pistons are at the end of theirpower stroke.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario this 29th day of June, 1928.

ADAM CRAIGON. I

